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Rating: Few rock bands have assembled an average level of musical technique comparable to Gentle Giant. We are in the presence of multi-instrumentalists capable of moving from Jazz to Folk, from Classical to Rock with great ease and spontaneity. The sound of the "gentle giant" is characterized by the variety of musical approaches that nevertheless coexist in a perfect, highly original synthesis.
In this sense, I believe that "Acquiring the Taste" is their most beautiful album: it's the one where the spontaneity and creative liveliness of the debut are combined with a surprising expressive maturity. All the tracks are tied together by a harmonic and stylistic unity, making them instantly recognizable. Here, there are no technical complications and the taste for the baroque and the intricate that plagued some works from their second period (from "Octopus" to "Free Hand," to be precise). Nor does it happen that the rock and symphonic components (to simplify) dictate the tracks unilaterally, as was the case in the phenomenal debut album (the dyad Why Not - Funny Ways). Here, the multiple elements of the recipe give rise to a blend in which the flavors are enhanced by balancing each other. Thus, we have the pastoral sound, enriched by the a cappella choruses of the Schullmann brothers, in "Pantagruel's Nativity," the surreal chromaticism of "Acquiring the Taste," a short but precious Moog interlude showcasing the skills of the multi-keyboardist Kerry Minnear. A particular attention to timbres (among others, harpsichord, xylophone, violin, and sax are used) is a key feature of the group's sound, especially on this album.
But the best comes on what was the second side of the vinyl. "Wreck," built on an engaging bassline, sounds rocking, but before the splendid finale where Green's electric solo soars over a bed of liquid keyboards, a miracle happens: like an oasis of solid ground in the midst of a stormy ocean, flute and harpsichord create a delicate, evocative medieval pastel. But there's more. The summit is reached with the sublime "The Moon is Down," a dreamy ballad that opens into a jazz-style digression that's truly worth the price of the album alone. Violin and electric guitar become onomatopoeias of the shrill meows of a cat in the subsequent "The Black Cat," reminiscent of a buzzard.
Last but not least, "Plain Truth," the grand finale that anticipates by at least twenty years certain themes of the best prog-metal and enhances them with jazz nuances. Wonderful. Guys, do yourselves a favor, buy this album. It's worth it.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Pantagruel's Nativity (06:53)
How can I laugh or cry
When my mind is sorely torn?
Badabec had to die
Fair Pantagruel is born
Shall I weep, yes, for why?
Then laugh and show my scorn
Born with a strength untold
Foreseen to have great age
Set in Gargantuan mould,
Joyful laugh, yet quick to rage
Princely wisdom, habits bold;
Power, glory, lauded sage
Pantagruel born -- the earth was dry and burning
In Paradise dear Badabec prays for him
Pantagruel born -- the earth was dry and burning
In Paradise dear Badabec prays for him
Pantagruel born -- the earth was dry and burning
In Paradise dear Badabec prays for him
How can I laugh or cry
When my mind is sorely torn?
Badabec had to die;
Fair Pantagruel is born
Shall I weep, yes, for why?
Then laugh and show my scorn
02 Edge of Twilight (03:51)
The moon is down
Casting its shadow over the night-haunted town
Mystical figures under the silence of light
The trembling air
Drifts slowly unseen over the houses there
And echoes changing into the voices of night
On the edge of twilight whispering
Whisper, whisper, whisper, whisper,
On the edge of twilight whispering
Whisper, whisper, whisper, whisper
Elusive time
In limbo active in never ending mime
The edge of twilight into the darkness of day
05 Wreck (04:40)
The ship's rising up from the sea to the sky heyeheh Hold on
Just one sorry scream and a desperate cry heyeheh Hold on
Their lives pass before them before they die heyeheh --
The sea yawns around like a boiling hell heyeheh hold on
And souls disappear with the toll of that bell heyeheh hold on
The arms of the sea they are dragging them down heyeheh hold on
And sorrows and sins they are lost as they drown heyeheh --
How strange when you think that the sea was their way;
And a meaningless death is the price they pay
For their living was made from the deep
To their people in comfort and keep
Keep all their people and places there
Never to be seen again, never to be loved and their last embrace --
And the kiss has a salt bitter taste
Now all that remains is the deep cruel sea heyeheh hold on
And wreckage of things that used to be heyeheh hold on
No stone marks the place of that watery grave heyeheh hold on
Together they die both the weak and the brave heyeheh hold on
The arms of the sea they are dragging them down heyeheh hold on
And sorrows and sins they are lost as they drown heyeheh hold on
(fade)
08 Plain Truth (07:36)
Why do you question
When there's no answer told?
Plain truth is nothing
You can't buy it when it's sold
Save all your money
And they won't reason why
Why all the worry?
They'll spend it when you die
Don't look for something
Plain truth is nothing,
nothing but the plain truth
You stand and wonder
Just let it warm your skin
Take all the living
Live life and let it win
Plain truth means nothing
Cry, laugh and cry again
You question answers
Born, live and die, Amen
Don't look for something
Plain truth is nothing,
nothing but the plain truth
Why do you question
When there's no answer told?
Plain truth is nothing
You can't buy it when it's sold
Save all your money
And they won't reason why
Why all the worry?
They'll spend it when you die
Don't look for something
Plain truth is nothing,
nothing but the plain truth
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